How to act at a real knife show

wolfmann601

wolfmann601

Gone, but not forgotton. RIP Ira.
Joined
Mar 12, 2001
Messages
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I am attending Blade in Atlanta. I have only been to one knife only show and it was a very small and friendly show in Marlboro, Ma.

Having NEVER attended a mega show like blade, how does one go about "dealing" with the man behind the table. I mean is it customary to just pay the sticker price on a knife you intend to buy, or is it expected to ask "how much will you take?"

I know this may sound foolish, but I AM going to hook up with all of you that post here and buy a knife (assuming you are not sold out before the door opens). I know to ask before touching, but when I look at the tag or I ask how much if no tag is present, is that the price I should pay with no attempt to get it lower.

I am not talking about the end of a show. I mean at ANY point in the show. The bottom line, what is the best way to approach you custom guys and go about the purchase process from your table?

Thanks,
Ira
 
Walk, do not run, to the Badlands booth and buy everything you can. After that it's simple, start drinking and don't stop until the show closes on Sunday. :)
 
The best way to go about it is to (1) find a knife you like (2) looks at the little price sticker then (3) put that much cash on the table and (4) shake the makers hand.

As a buyer of knives I can see the desire to try to get a better deal. However, these knifemakers aren't getting rich off us. They come up with a price that they think is fair. I find it offensive to try and haggle down a knifemaker's asking price. I suppose the end of the show might be a different story, but I really think it is in the knifemakers court if they want to offer you the knife at a reduced price in order to move it.

~Mitch
 
Originally posted by wolfmann601
I mean is it customary to just pay the sticker price on a knife you intend to buy, or is it expected to ask "how much will you take?"
Click to expand...

I would say that would be very bad form. I'm not saying that some makers don't leave some wiggle room, but to walk up to a table and to suggest that their asking price isn't what it should be isn't going to make you any friends. I've gone to some shows and found myself coming back to the same knife over and over again only to have the maker suggest that if I really wanted it they could maybe knock a little off, but I've never bought a knife for a few dollars off. I either can afford the knife or I can't. The exception would be is if you see a few knives on a makers table and you said, "What could you do if I took those three?" But don't be surprised if some will just say, "I could put them in a bag for you." ;)
 
Go to the left, and all the way to the back. Turn right, take 20 steps, look to the frount and say "Hi Dennis":D. It'll be easyer after that. Remember you are walking into the biggest knife show in the world. You might want to bring ear plugs, there will be a constant roar.

It's a BIG room, with more knives than mortal man can understand. It can be intemidating. Meeting friends will help.
 
I like Mitch's method ;)

I agree with the posts here. It's really hard to price your work, and when you finally come to a price one it, it's really disheartening to have someone try and dicker about it. You can dicker with a used car-salesman, but not really with someone who has poured their blood, sweat, and tears into what they're selling. Just my opinion.

And from the other end of it, I think it hurts the integrity of a maker if he is willing to haggle on his prices. It's like saying, "Gosh, you're right...my work isn't worth that much!"

Have fun at the show!
Nick
 
If you have to ask the price you shouldn"t be looking at it.Just kidding Ira.:)
One thing about knife makers and dealing with them.Do not haggle at all.Bad form.
:barf:
I buy so many knives from so many makers most give me a discount anyhoo.
 
Wolfy,
Like the others said, the place is MASSIVE. They will have maps of table available before the show starts. My advice to you is to map out which makers you want to see,and get there quick!

After the first few hours of running around like a chicken with your head cut off,take it easy,stroll around taking it all in. Check out some of the seminars (dont miss the cutting demo's!),look for BFC members. Make sure to check out the loading dock,allllll the way to the back,and through the doors. You might run into Carson,Simonich,Dexter 'The number of knives i carry on a daily basis weigh more than i do sopping wet' Ewing,etc etc etc.

The chat bastids will be there,running amok. So will the NC guys (you guys have the same table again this year?) And a whole slew of others.
You can try to see everything,but it probably wont happen.

see you there.
 
Ira, have a good time! I wish I could go this year. This topic has been done before, and since I am feeling really lazy, I am going to be brief and say DON'T HAGGLE with makers. The knife is either worth the price they are asking (to you), or not.

Look, enjoy, be nice, comment on the makers talents, but don't haggle. Makers may be willing to give you a price break near the end of a show, or if they know you really well and are feeling generous. But I leave that completely up to the knife maker. If you can't afford it, you can't afford it. Look, fondle, admire (try not to drool or sweat), say Thank-You, and move on.

Two really good threads on the topic from the past are:

Haggling @ knifeshows

and

Knife Show Prices vs. Custom Knife Dealer Prices

Most of us dislike haggling with makers. However, haggling with dealers is perfectly OK, acceptable, and probably expected.

Para
 
My piece of advice...don't buy a knife just because you like the maker. There are a lot of great guys making and selling knives, and I do patronize the ones I like and avoid the ones I don't. But whenever I've bought a knife as a "favor" to a maker (for taking up his time, or whatever), I've ended up selling it pretty quickly.
 
Great advice here. Not much more to add other than to watch too. I have learnd a lot by hanging around knife people and it has not been all about knives :).

It is easy to get caught up in the frenzy and miss that part of the experience. Patience can be a key too. It gets realy crowded on Saturday especially.
 
So do you have to ask each time you want to touch or pick up a knife on the table? I was at the ECCKS (my first show ever) and it didn't look like people were asking, and it didn't look like the makers minded.

Actually I was surprised at how cavalier the makers were with their knives. Some didn't even seem like they were paying attention to the tables--in a good friendly way, not a bad poor service way. My city senses were alarmed at first and I felt sort of protective of these non city slickers because somebody could just walk off with one of their works when the table is crowded. Then I calmed down since it seemed like every one was sort of mellow and there seemed to be a mutual unspoken regard between makers and browsers.

I followed suit with the crowd and didn't ask before I picked up a knife to look at it. I hope we weren't being rude New Yorkers by doing that.
 
I really appreciate this advice. Having NEVER attended a knife show, It is extremely important that I make the first impression on the "knife community" the good one that shows me for who I am.

I intend on bringing an obscene amount of cash. I will be the guy with brown (and quite a bit of grey) hair and of course a copish looking haircut and moustache and PUSHING A WHEEL-BARROW.

I absolutely shall be visiting those tables of the makers that post here for two reasons. First and foremost, I find you all to be absolute gentlemen, and very dedicated to knives, and secondly, your work is gorgeous and I just gotta get my hands on them and I am tired of begging:p :p

I will be bringing lots of booze, buying lots of drinks, staying up to all hours of the night (or morning) getting to know you and hopefully you to know me. I am a friendly drunk, I laugh alot.

Now, I just gotta be able to sit up straight or I will be bringing along vials full of pain killers:( :( But, they go great with Jack Daniels!!!!!

But in any event, I shall be there and have the time of my life and FINALLY bring home some of the knives I have dreamed and drooled over for too long, and finally get to shake the hands of alot of folks I consider friends that I have yet to meet. I am so excited that I cannot wait..............Ira;)
 
Even if I go against the grain, I think it is good to ask befor you handle. Interruptions are not a good thing either.
 
I agree with most of what has already been listed here. At Blade, you have to have a plan of attack. Unless you have millions of dollars. There are so many knives in which to spend your money on, the decision is almost unbearable. Usually, I have enough money with me at Blade to buy a couple of nice bowies. This show, I have knives being delivered, so my extra money will be limited to maybe one bowie after orders are taken care of. This makes it very hard to decide. You will see when you get there. We are talking about sensory overload! A few years ago, I was at Blade and had picked up and was admiring a super sweet fighter from Joe Flournoy. Out of the corner of my eyes, I could see people on either side of me, just waiting for me to put the knife down, so that they could buy it. I did not put that knife down, and bought it. I swear, I could hear groans on either side of me when I pulled out my wallet and paid for the knife! If you see a knife that interests you, buy it. You may not get a second chance.
 
Ira,

There is a one-day knife show in Marlboro MA at the end of this month. Although not NEARLY as impressive as the big shows, I always have a good time and there are a BUNCH of very good Customs available from makers and purveyors in the area. It is sponsored by the Northeast Cutlery Collectors Association (NCCA), and I will find out an exact date for us. At any rate, I'll be there!!

Now, as for pricing.... There is a certain line I have found to be INVALUABLE to use in any dealings with a maker, purveyor, used car salesman, etc.....

"What's the very best you can do on this.....?"

It is non judgemental, and put's the POWER of the transaction back into the seller's hand. Regardless, it will net YOU a benefit. It makes NO claim that the work isn't worth what he is asking, but points toward a close-of-sale price. It works wonders for me. (Shhhhhh!)

See ya there!

Coop
 
.....but after a great nights sleep (finally), and some good Hawaiian coffee,, I think I'm half awake enough to post this...

And if this sounds funky, blame Gus, he got me thinking about it...

Yes, I always ask before I handle...I'm being polite. And, I only handle what I'm really considering purchasing. And, I don't interupt...again, I'm being polite, but I'm interested...

So this part is for the makers, purveyors, and dealers...if I don't receive some kind of acknowlegement that I'm there...even a smile or a wink, within 3 minutes...then I'm 'outta there'...

Part II for the makers, purveyors, and dealers... Women buy knives too. My wife buys almost exclusively at shows, mainly from the makers, but from the other's if the maker isn't there, or is too back logged.

The seller 'Has' to know who's doing the buying, and talk with 'that' person! I can't tell you how many tables we've walked away from, simply because the seller only spoke with me...

Anyhoo, see you guys at the OKCA show...

Mel
 
Ask before picking up, most makers don't care; but it's just good manners. Sometimes no words are spoken, just eye contact or a nod. At this level it becomes serious business for a lot of folks. Interrupting a deal in progress is considered bad form; that has been mention in a couple of earlier replys. On the haggle thing; the way I look at it is this. Would a buyer be offended if a knifemaker asked him a couple hundred bucks extra just because he looked well heeled? Of course he would. It works the same the other direction, just because a maker looks like he's starving to death making knives doesn't mean he will discount his work. Go, look, fondle, ask questions, have a good time; it's the blade show. see ya'll there mike
 
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